Electric switch



l..v s. WALLE ELECTRIC swIqTcH Aug. 25, l1925.

Inventor Ludvig S.Wal le:J bs ff/ di His Attorney Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,551,349 PATENT OFFICE.

LUDVIG s. WALLR, or SCOTIA, N EW YORK, AssIGNOR To GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led September 29, 1923. Serial No. 665,709,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUDvIG S. WALLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scotia, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a switch operating mechanism and particularly to a centrifugal device for actuating and controlling the same. An ob'ect of my invention is to provide a centri ugal switch operating vmechanism in which there shall be no tendency of the momentum of the moving parts of the operating mechanism as the switch comes to its final closed position, to cause a shock which would put objectionable strains on the switch mechanism and interfere with undervoltage devices and the like mounted in connection with the switch mechanism. A further object is to provide an improved centrifugal mechanism which shall be simple and rugged in construction, efficient in operation and which shall automatically become effective when the switc reaches its closed position to oppose and absorb the force due to the inertia of the moving parts and thereby reduce the shock incident to the closing of the switch.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying specification and drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing a centrifugal mechanism according to my invention connected to operate an oil switch, the switch being in open circuit po-Y sition; Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view of the operating mechanism taken at right anglesv to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but'with the parts in closed circuit position; andFig. 4 is a detail of the centrifugal device in its final position of rest.

`In the drawing,- a panel 1 has attache thereto on one side a switch which in the present case is illustrated as a down break oil switch, the elements of which are located within the tank 2 supported from bracket 3. Lever 4 is pivoted to the. supporting bracket 3 and is attached at its outer end to the switch operating rods 5. Upward or Vswitch closing movement of the lever is e'ected by a toggle mechanism comprising links 6 and 7. The links are operatively connected to the main actuating lever 8 by means of link 9, lever 10 and tripping'links 11 and 12. Levers 8 and 10 are fulcrumed respectively at 13 and 14 on upwardly extending portions of casing 15, link 12 is pivoted to lever 8 at 16 and link 11 is pivoted to lever 10 at 17.

The power for closing the switch is sup` plied by an electric motor 18 pivotally mounted on the walls of the casing 15 by being suspended from a yoke 19 and pivot screws20. The motor shaft 21 is keyed to a sleeve 22 which is journalled in the yoke 19and has its head spaced therefrom by a thrust bearing 23. Threaded into the sleeve 22 is a guide rod 24 having 'lock nut 25 and threaded on the exterior of the sleeve is a pin 26 on which are pivoted the lower ends of links 27 and 28 of the centrifugal mechanism. These links are pivotally connected to upper links 29 and 3() by pins 31 and 32 which have enlarged central portions constit'uting weights. The upper links are pivoted on a pin 33 similar to pin 26 below and this pin as well as a nut 34 is threaded upon a sleevev35 which sleeve is connected by a thrust bearing to the bifurcated link 36.-- The two arms of this link 36 pivotally connect with corresponding arms of the main lever 8. For tripping open the breaker there is provided a solenoid 38 whose plunger upon striking the small trip lever 39 causes the tripping links 11 and 12 to buckle upwardly and release the toggle links 6 and 7. It will be noticed that the linksA 29 and 30 of the centrifugal device are considerably shorter than the links 27 and 28 so that when the lever 8 in its descent reaches the position illustrated by Fig. 3 the centers of pins 31, 32 and 33 lie in a straight line while the links 27 and 28 make a substantial angle therewith. With the mechanism in this position the switch is closed and the toggle links 6 and 7 are slightly underset. Just prior to the pin 33 reaching the position of alinement with pins 31 and 32 pin 16 passed the line connecting pins 13 and 17 thereby slightly oversetting the toggle comprising ,lever 8 and links'll and 12, which links, be-

by Fig. 1 and the switch in open circuit position, 'a closing of the motor circuit causes I a sudden and rapid rotation of the links 27,

28, 29 and 30 and pins 3l and 32, which latter as stated above, constitute the weights of the centrifugal device. The centrifugal force is sufficient to rock the main lever 8 and through the connecting mechanism including the toggle links 6 and 7 to move the switch to closed circuit position, such being illustrated by Fig. 3. It will be noticed that in this position the centrifugal force of the weights exert no downward component on the lever 8. The momentum of the lever 8 and connected parts, howevercarry it beyond this position when the centrifugal force of the weights again becomes effective, now to oppose further downward movement of lever 8. The momentum having been absorbed the force of the weights returns the lever 8 to the position by Fig. 3, it being understood that the position of the switch is not materially changed by this comparatively small return movement of the lever 8. Upon opening the-motor circuit, the weights in coming to rest permit the lever 8 and connected parts to drop by gravity, assisted by the reaction of links ll and l2, to the position shown in Fig. 4 where further movement is arrested by the nut 34 coming in contact with the nut 25. Friction between these two members assists in bringing the rotating parts to a standstill.

To trip open the switch, the solenoid 38 is energized which through lever 39 causes the toggle links 1l and 12 to buckle.

IVhile I have described only one embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown and described as it will be apparent that many modifications therein may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,-

1. Anv electric switch, switch operating mechanism, and a centrifugal actuating means therefor characterized by the fact that continued movement of the switch and the actuating mechanism beyond the closed circuit position of the switch is opposed by the centrifugal means with a force which is realt-ively greater than the force applied in closing the switch.

2. In an electric switch, switch operating mechanism, and a centrifugal device for applying an actuating force to said mechanism and for applying a relatively greater force to said mechanism to check continued movement thereof beyond its closed circuit position.

3. A centrifugal device adapted to actuate a switch mechanism and to oppose the force of inertia thereof after the same has reached the closed circuit position comprising rotatable weights, means for supporting and connecting the weights with the switch mechanism comprising links arranged to cause the weights to exert a force opposing over-travel of the mechanism which is relatively greater than the force exerted thereby in closing the switch.

4. A centrifugal switch actuating device comprising a rotatable member, an axially movable member adapted to be operatively connected with a switch, a pair of centrifugal weights, and link mechanism connecting the weights and the members, said mechanism being constructed tol permit the axially movable member to move beyond the point corresponding to maximum deflection of the weights and to cause the centrifugal force exerted by the weights to have an axial component which is greater after the axially movable member has passed beyond said point than before it has reached the same.

5. .AA centrifugal switch actuating device comprising a pair of rotatable weights, a rotatable supporting member, links connecting the weights with the member, an axially movable member adapted to be operatively connected with a switch, and other links shorter than said irst links connecting the weights with the axially movable member whereby the weights are eifective to oppose over-travel of the switch with a force which is relatively greater than the actuating force.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of September, 1923.

LUDVIG S. WALLE. 

